NONPROFIT
OUR MISSION
914UNITED Inc. emerged in 2020 to serve on the forefront of advocating for the youth and the formlery incarcerated residing within the Lower-Hudson Valley. We champion the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child and a team to achieve success. In this spirit, we deliver a team of seasoned role models whose genuine dedication and community value lies in supporting and mentoring those living within at-risk environments. Our aim is to assist youth in successfully transitioning into adulthood and provide returning citizens with essential support to sustain productive living.
OUR MISSION
914United Inc. is a program-based mentoring non-for-profit organization working to educate, empower, and enrich the youth and the justice-involved within the Lower-Hudson Valley. We champion the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child and a team to achieve success. In this spirit, we deliver a team of ``Real Model`` and Reentry Mentors whose dedication and community value lies in supporting and uplifting those impacted by socio-economic inequities. Our aim is to assist youth in successfully transitioning into adulthood and provide returning citizens with essential support to sustain productive living.
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OUR WORK, OUR VISION
914United Inc. presents the Leaders Build Leaders Initiative. This initiative includes interactive, seminar-based programs such as manhood training, financial literacy, civic engagement, & women empowerment. As an incentive, it provides internships in various professions as well as gift sponsorships from local establishments and community organizations--proffering committed participants free services to personal care, entertainment, adventures, and more. In addition, we have a team of Reentry Mentors - who returned from incarceration leading to successful lives - dedicated to providing guidance to the Justice-involved. We envision a society where positive mentors offset negative environmental influences; where the underprivileged communities receive the institutional and community support in navigating life challenges; where retributive justice no longer exist.
OUR VALUES
Inspired by the belief that we must help one another, we value the role of community support in uplifting those in need. No greater value exists than caring for the less fortunate. It is with the mindset of WE that build communities and improve the welfare of the people.
PAST ACTIVITES
GOING BEYOND OUR MISSION
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STAND AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM
Our team supports the fight against systemic racism and police brutality. We stand in solidarity with the young leaders who rise up and contest the…
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CARE FOR THE HOMELESSNESS
During the COVID-19 crisis, our team organized an homeless outreach project in the City of Yonkers. With the support of family, friends, residence, and public…
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SUPPORT THOSE IMPACTED BY COVID-19
Our team raised money to extend support and appreciation to the essential workers serving on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of…
THE CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
PROFESSIONAL & PASSIONATE
A dedicated community servant, Jonathan Alvarez is a Youth Advocate and Community Activist in the City of Yonkers. He’s a 32-year-old life-long Yonkers resident who promotes the philosophy that change agents, change narratives. After serving a 13-year prison term, he returned home with a mission to give back to the same community he once negatively impacted. He is motivated by his transformative experiences within the criminal justice system. At age 17, he went away with a tenth-grade education. During his incarceration, however, he acquired a GED and later achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from the Bard Prison Initiative program. His educational journey and personal metamorphosis have inspired him to be a productive contribution to society.
VIEW MORETHE CO-FOUNDER & Asst. Director
DEDICATED & DETERMINED
John Cabrera is a life-long Yonkers resident who cares for community and for those in need. His drive to serve others stems from an understanding of family support. During his adolescent years, he nearly spiraled down the wrong path by flirting with the street life and consequently experiencing a overnight stay at the city jail for a low-level crime. But friends and family steered him in the right direction. He completed High School and moved on to study Business Management at Monroe College and then transitioned into Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College. Due to the birth of his first child, John had to leave school to take care of his family. His crutch during this pivotal moment - beside family - was the church. It was at this time that he adopted the Christian faith more devotedly than ever and experienced the true meaning of giving back. He volunteered his time in the capacity of Young Adult and Outreach Leader at Harvest Fields Community Church, conducting community outreach to the youth and the homelessness.
VIEW MOREOur Partnerships Drive Our Success
WANT TO SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT
We are always looking for new partnerships and better ways to advance our mission. Also, we love to say hello.
914United kicked off 2022 with Keith Howard, New York City’s Director & Director of Training and Capacity Building for the New York States Mentoring Program in a “Virtual New Mentor Training”. This session was much needed and appreciated. Keith provided the team with powerful insight on the origin of mentoring, the good and bad characteristics of a mentor, and the many ways to be a leading mentor.
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We are now better equipped to be mentors to our participants at 914United and are excited to utilize these skills to better serve our youth and those within our program.
Shout out to all 914United mentors who joined the training because they understand the mission and are passionate about becoming stronger mentors and community advocates for the justice involved.
@newyorkmentoring
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#mentoringprogram #mentoringtraining #buildingleaders #nonprofit #westchesterny #914united
“I pointed to the stars, and all you saw was my finger” was Alvarez’s opening line to the 8th graders at the Scholastic Academy of Academic Excellence.
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This quote spoke to the idea that most youth often pay attention to the messenger and not the message. Meaningful messages often come in ways that we take for granted in which leads to not taking heed to the message.
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This message drove the Real Modeling session facilitated by Jonathan Alvarez & Yonkers MBK Program Coordinator Greg Joyner - who bring different messages to the youth with the same intention - with the same goal: their growth and development.
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914United is grateful for @yonkersmbk / Greg Joyner for organizing these groups as both mentoring organizations work to educate and empower the youth 💪🏽🗣
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The energy the kids brought to the discussion was amazing. They asked great questions and in turn Alvarez was open and honest with his responses. We are looking forward to the next session!
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#914United #realmodels #MBK #yonkersNY #yonkers #westchesterNy #empower #payattention #yourenotalone #nonprofit
Last weekend John and Jonathan returned to Lincoln High School for the 2nd session to discuss Civic Engagement in the form of Community Organizing 🗣
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We used 914United as the prime example 💪🏽
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#communityorganizing #914united #civicengagement #nonprofit #yonkers #westchestercounty
Thank you @lohud for capturing founders Jonathan Alvarez and John Cabrera’s story in such a captivating way. The birth of 914United stems from Jonathan’s lived experiences.
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Please go check out the article of his transformative journey: “From Prison to Running a Nonprofit, This Yonkers Man Hopes To Change Lives” written by Diana Dombrowski from Rockland/Westchester Journal News.
Link in Bio.
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#914United #formerlyincarcerated #nonprofit #westchestercounty #westchester #yonkers #mybrotherskeeper #usatoday #lohud #education #mentorship #yourenotalone
Thank you @yonkersyouthbureau for inviting us to your board meeting and allowing...
Nov 24
Thank you @yonkersyouthbureau for inviting us to your board meeting and allowing us to share what 914United is about. We look forward to building a long lasting relationship with you and coming together to better serve our community.
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Shout out to @dwanita_crosby for your support! Your recognition is what brought us to this amazing table of leaders!
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Let’s get to work!
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#914united #yonkersny #westchesternonprofit #nonprofit #yonkers #leadership
Last night we co-organized and attended the 9th Annual Coat Drive and poetry night at (@yonkersarts_space) presented by (@collective_for_a_cause). The event was hosted by @phylliv_ and sponsored by many community groups including 914United, Jasmine Hernandez (@jasny2la), Que Paso Latinx (@quepasolatinx), @weartone1 , @juicesforlife , @cafe2.0yonkers, @thepowerlab, @opexriverdalenyc & more. We received nearly 70 coats of all sizes that contributed to the 300+ coats collected for those in need in the community. Shout out to all the donors!
What an amazing experience to see raw talent by local artists including: Vincent Hill & his brother Zachary all the way from Brooklyn (@vhill_poetry & @trumpetkid_ ). Dilson (@dilson.music ) who spoke from the heart – coming from the Bronx and making a seamless connection to the Yonkers community by just using his words and guitar. Crystal who led the night by passionately sharing her pieces with us and bringing a vibration of peace to the crowd (@ytcl.nyc ). S/O to @phylliv_ for selecting the dope talented artists and for sharing her own amazing poetry. Poetry followed by a large meaningful donation of coats spoke volumes last night.
We contribute to these events to demonstrate our motto to our people: “you’re not alone”. Together we will keep 300+ people warm this winter.
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#914United #westchesterunited #coatdonations #coatdrive #poetrynight #poetry #donate #yonkers #nonprofitsunite #nonprofitorganization
This past Saturday we launched the 2nd cohort for the STEM Alliance's Digital Equity Now initiative - focusing on Google Suite applications as well as Website Design and Personal Branding tools. The goal is to address the digital divide impacting Black, Brown, and underserved communities that have faced long standing social inequities. This is such a powerful initiative that 914United is proud to be a part of. We want to ensure that justice involved individuals have an equal opportunity to securing promising futures.
If you or someone you know would like to take advantage of this program - send them our way for the next cohort beginning in 2022. Let's start sharing the knowledge because knowledge is power, and our mission is to teach our community that leveling up is always possible no matter when you decide to start.
Shout out to the Stem Alliance for their partnership in increasing the digital health of our community.
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@thestemalliance @att
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#914united #digitalhealth #digitalequity #westchesterny #yonkersny #educate #nonprofit #returningcitizens #nonprofitorganization
Bringing it back to our stomping grounds!
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Our Co-Founders Jonathan and John visited Lincoln Highschool, a school they both once attended to speak to a group of 40 students about their role as community organizers and the importance of civic engagement - a difficult yet important concept and practice to teach our youth.
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914United has revised its civic engagement 5-week curriculum to expose, engage, educate, and empower our youth to the many forms of civic participation. Our hope is to inspire them to be change agents in their communities. The 5-weeks cover civic engagement in the form of Music/Rap, Art, Policing, Community Organizing and Politics - with a required project to complete at the end of the course.
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We’re working with our partners at Lincoln HS and @yonkersmbk on this initiative - as we continue to mentor the youth by assisting them along their individual journeys.
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S/O to MBK and YPS (@yonkerspublicschools) for letting us in the door to build our youth.
Civic skills provides our youth with the right to represent their own interests. We encourage them to be active in our community. After these seminars are taught, our youth will be equipped with the knowledge to participate in our society. When citizens are engaged, they can exchange ideas, invest in finding solutions and partake in civilized action to address the issues facing their communities.
If you want to learn more about this initiative - please contact us at Info@914United.org.
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#914united #civicengagement #nonprofit #westchester #yonkersny #lincolnhighschool #empower #engage #educateouryouth
